CHALLENGES OF E-LEARNING FACED BY MEDICAL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Objective: To explore perceptions of medical students and faculty, regarding challenges of e-learning they faced, during COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Design: Mixed method study (Quantitative and Qualitative - Phenomenological approach).

Place and Duration of Study: Army Medical College Pakistan, from Apr 2020 to Sep 2020.

Methodology: A self-made questionnaire, having both qualitative and quantitative elements, was developed after interviews of participants. It was pilot tested, finalized and sent via Google forms. Total 318 students and 6 faculty members responded, data was transcribed verbatim, themes were identified, and qualitative inductive content analysis of participants‟ reports was done.

Results: Twenty-seven subthemes were identified by analyzing students‟ and faculty perceptions. They were grouped under five major themes, namely, communicational, technological, institutional, related to educators and students.

Conclusion: Despite limiting factors like communication gap, digital refugee faculty teaching digital native students, limited technical support, digital divide and unplanned curricular delivery, e-learning was found to be beneficial in terms of flexibility in timings, improving learners‟ self-efficacy, faculty transformation and gradual acceptance. Moreover, it provided opportunity for hybrid e-curriculum development.